When The Fog Lifts

Question to think about: Have you invited the presence of God into your day?

It is a foggy morning.
Visibility is reduced on the roads.
When the fog lifts the day is forecasted to be sunny and clear.
The view changes when the fog lifts.

When we do not seek God, we live in a spiritual fog. Christ came that we would see more.

John wrote about the disciple's lack of understanding. Their were those who resited and refused to see how Christ changed their view of God. They had lived their Jewish faith generation after generation. It was difficult to see that Christ did not take away their faith in God, but completed their faith:

Many among his disciples heard this and said, "This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow." Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, "Does this throw you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don't make anything happen. Every word I've spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this." (Jesus knew from the start that some weren't going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, "This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father."
John 6: 60-65, The Message)

Stop.
Stop resisting.
Stop refusing.
Seek God.
What does God want you to see today?
Let the spiritual fog lift.
Broaden your perspective of life today through the life-making Spirit-word.

Learning with you to see more when the fog lifts,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Full Meal

Question to think about: Do you want the full meal deal?

The full meal deal is big business.
But, do we have all the information?
Does the full meal deal provide what is needed to be healthy?
The full meal deal often puts the heart at risk.

We might deny it . . . but the short-term deal often takes precedence over the long-term results. Businesses are counting on it.

The season of Lent provides an opportunity to evaluate our spiritual health. We need to think how something changes our life not only in the short-term but in the long-term of life.
Does your response to circumstances lead to health and wholeness?
What is the condition of your heart (personality, passion, desire, energy, intellect, and will)?
In the short term, accumulating and attaining the stuff of life might look like the full meal deal. Christ, God with us, explained:

The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the Final Day. My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. By eating my flesh and drinking my blood you enter into me and I into you. In the same way that the fully alive Father sent me here and I live because of him, so the one who makes a meal of me lives because of me. This is the Bread from heaven. Your ancestors ate bread and later died. Whoever eats this Bread will live always.(John 6: 54-58, The Message)

There is more to life than what we accumulate and attain. Without Christ,the hunger for more is never satisfied
When we fully engage with the presence and power of Christ
with
all of our mind
all of our heart
all of our soul
all of our strength
we are fulfilled.

Stop.
Evaluate your spiritual condition.
Are you healthy?
What is the condition of your heart?
Do you have a spiritual appetite for the Bread of Life?
Seek Christ for your daily Bread.

Learning with you to hunger for the Bread of Life,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Give "It" Up

Question to think about: Are you willing?

Life without Christ eventually leads to
Doom.
Darkness.
Desperation.
Depression.
Life with Christ leads to
Hope.
Light.
Anticipation.
Real life.

Today is the first day of Lent. A day marked by Christ followers around the world to focus on God through prayer and fasting. The value of participating in Lent is attaining more clairty about life through prayer and fasting.
Practicing Lent involves giving something up that matters in order to be less distracted and more focused on God.

We are created to be consumed with the presence of Christ rather than with the pressures and problems of the day. Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life." The people could not wrap their minds around what Jesus said:

Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. (John 6: 52-53, NASB)

It is a daily choice to be fully engaged with Christ.
Determine to be consumed with Christ.
Give up something during Lent.
Be consumed with the presence, power, and peace of Christ.

Learning with you to give "it" up,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

No Regret

Question to think about: Do you live with regret?

Did you hear about the story of the Colorado bus driver?
Along with another gentleman, the bus driver helped two elderly women passengers cross an icy street. A truck came at them, so, the bus driver pushed the three other individuals out of the way; however, he was hit head-on by the truck.
The injured hero has been ticketed for jaywalking.
He has no regrets for helping.

Regret is produced from looking backwards and seeing that specific choices led to a disappointing, distressing, and even depressing outcome.
Regret becomes an obstacle to living freely.
Regret must be surrendered in order to move forward in life with passion and motivation.

If not faced, regret multiplies as more choices are made from the burden of regret.
Real life is missed when regret becomes the focus of living.
Christ explained living real life:
"I'm telling you the most solemn and sober truth now: Whoever believes in me has real life, eternal life. I am the Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate the manna bread in the desert and died. But now here is Bread that truly comes down out of heaven. Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever. I am the Bread—living Bread!—who came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will live—and forever! The Bread that I present to the world so that it can eat and live is myself, this flesh-and-blood self." (John 6:47-51, The Message)

Christ, God with us, is the Bread of Life.
In the ancient days, bread was not only considered to be a staple but symbolized the sustenance of life. The manna, denoted as bread from heaven, provided sustenance to the people as they wandered in the desert because of wrong choices. They had forty years of regret. Despite their regret, God sustained the people.

Christ, the Bread of Life, stated that life is more than being sustained by manna . . . with Christ life is fulfilled.
Stop.
Determine if regret is present in the way you think, speak, and act.

Are you sustained by manna in your regret? In other words . . . you believe and have faith but regret rules your life and your current decisions.

Are you willing to live without regret?

Give up regret and give your whole mind, heart, soul and strength today to Christ.
Experience fulfillment in your day without the weight of regret.

Learning with you to live without regret,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Do you get it?

Question to think about: Is something missing?

Monday morning.
The race begins.
Get up.
Get going.
Get the to-do list done.
Get through the day.
Get to bed.

It is too easy to race through the days of living without getting the point to living.
We either work on getting through the stuff of life or intentionally live real life.
Living real life requires intentional connection with Christ throughout the day.
Christ said it:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life." (John 6:47, American Standard Bible)

Eternal life . . . is real life . . . living in relationship with Christ . . . in love and in service.
Get the point to real life.
Get up focusing on the presence of Christ.
Get going through the day with prayer in the name of Christ.
Get the to-do list done through the power of Christ.
Get through the day in the peace of Christ.
Get to bed focusing on the presence of Christ.


Learning with you to get real life,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)
at 6:20 AM

Numb

Question to think about: Are you numb?

Common denominators to people in the Western world include:
Overload.
Pressure.
Aloneness.
Worry.
Anger.
Exhaustion.
Stress.
Numbness.

Numbness masks problems that continue to escalate if nothing changes. Christ, God with us, desires to wake us up from the numbness that so easily settles in . . . to be aware of what really matters:
Jesus said, "Don't bicker among yourselves over me. You're not in charge here. The Father who sent me is in charge. He draws people to me—that's the only way you'll ever come. Only then do I do my work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End. This is what the prophets meant when they wrote, 'And then they will all be personally taught by God.' Anyone who has spent any time at all listening to the Father, really listening and therefore learning, comes to me to be taught personally—to see it with his own eyes, hear it with his own ears, from me, since I have it firsthand from the Father. No one has seen the Father except the One who has his Being alongside the Father—and you can see me. (John 6:43-46, The Message)

Christ depicted life as a learning process through the teaching and guidance of God.
It requires a choice . . .
to turn away from numbness,
to wake up,
to get up and go in the way of Christ.

It may seem easier to be numb; however, in the long-term real life will be missed.
Refuse to regret your life.
Engage in life through Christ.
Live real life.

Learning with you to be awake, to get up, and to go in Christ,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

The Mic Was On

Question to think about: Have you invited Christ into your conversation?

My friend put a microphone on before making a presentation.
He did not know the mic was on.
He complained about some details of the program to a friend.
Everyone heard.
His complaints impacted the crowd.
Few responded to his prepared talk.
It was a harsh lesson.

The thing is . . . our words impact others as well as ourselves whether we are speaking to one or to a crowd.

Humanity shares the problem of complaining; however, complaining narrows our view of situations and leads to more negativity rather than positive change. John wrote about the complaints of people in the presence of Christ:
41 Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
42 They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
43 But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said."
(John 6:41-43, New Living Translation)

Yikes! Busted! Christ, God with us, heard their complaints.
They failed to discuss their concerns with Christ.
Rather than seeking Truth they complained.
Christ was present but not invited into their conversation.

If a mic was on you throughout the day, what would be heard in your conversation?
Christ is present.
Invite Christ into your conversations.
Impact others through words of life rather than complaints.


Learning with you to invite Christ into every conversation,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

The End

Question to think about: What is most important at the end?

I talked to a man.
He said he was a hard worker.
He said most of his time is spent working.
He said he is tired of working.
He said there is something missing in his life.
He said he wants something more . . . he wants to know his life matters before he gets to the end.

At the end of the day . . . at the end of a project . . . at the end of life . . . at the end of time . . . one thing matters.

Jesus explained:

"This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. This is what my Father wants: that anyone who sees the Son and trusts who he is and what he does and then aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time." (John 6:39-40, The Message)

The end of all things revolve around one thing: a relationship with Christ.

Christ came to reveal what matters . . . to teach us to enter into real life . . . eternal life. The days of our life are used to make us alive and whole at the end of time.

At the end of today will you have lived real life?

Live real life today, tomorrow, and forever.
Engage and participate with Christ.
Experience healing and wholeness through Christ.
Celebrate real living.

Learning with you at the end of the day real living is all that matters,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Who Understands?

Question to think about: Are you understood?

If only you would, then I would . . .
Words are said.
Misunderstanding occurs.
Defensive thoughts form.
Confidence decreases.
Blaming begins.
No one listens.
Trust is lost.
Blame, bitterness, and unforgiveness erect a barrier to understanding one another, locking us into a cycle of behavior that leads to division. The key to understanding is forgiveness. In the scriptures, the word forgiveness in the original Greek language,aphiemi, was used to describe letting go of the debt someone owed . . . freeing an individual of an obligation . . . a picture of an individual being released from prison.

Understanding is a gift . . . a rare gift precipitated by forgiveness. Christ, God with us, entered humanity to show us the way to live, understanding our struggles, hopes, and dreams . . . freeing us to experience life to the fullest.

The story of God is our story . . . when we study the interaction between Christ and the people . . . we see ourselves . . . a lack of belief that we are invited into a relationship with Christ who completely understands every component of our life and frees us from the things that inhibit experiencing the life we are created to live:
But [as] I told you, although you have seen Me, still you do not believe and trust and have faith. All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me].(John 6:36-37, Amplified)

Christ is the visible reality of the understanding of God.
Christ came to release us from the things that separate us from a healed and whole life.
Christ invites us to believe, trust, and have faith that God completely understands.
Christ invites us to take action: "Come" with the promise . . . "I will not "cast" you out.
Communicate with Christ every day.
You will be heard.
You will be understood.
You will be released to live fully and wholly.
Learning with you to believe Christ understands,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Dis . . . ease

Question to think about: Do you have dis . . . ease?

I talked with a group of people that are admittedly anxious for their jobs and welfare. Confidence in the system has been lost.
Anxiety is spreading.
Anxiety is contagious.
Anxiety is dis . . . ease.

What are we to do?

We need to stop dis--ease. But how?

Take time to study the days Christ spent on earth and look at what happened:
Expectations of crowds of people.
Time in prayer.
Accusations of leaders.
Time in prayer.
Death threats from leaders.
Time in prayer.
Decisions.
Time in prayer.
Healing.
Time in prayer.
Miracles.
Time in prayer.
Serving . . . washing feet.
Time in prayer.
Death on the cross . . . Resurrection.

Christ, God with us, chose to become a part of humanity . . . experiencing hunger, weariness, the need to be re-energized . . . all the things that are common to humanity. Christ understood the plight of those that were dis . . . eased. Christ went to the source of Life . . . to live in power.

Humanity has hungered for more than living in a state of anxiety ... desiring the power Christ demonstrated.

John described the response of people to Jesus:


Then they said to Him, Lord, give us this bread always (all the time)!

Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry, and he who believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me will never thirst any more (at any time). (John 6:34-35, Amplified)

Jesus gives us sustenance.
We either choose anxiety or sustenance in life.
Be anxious for nothing (Phil. 4:6).
The dis . . . ease is gone when we choose to:
Believe.
Cleave.
Trust.
Rely on Christ.
With the whole mind, heart, soul, and strength.
In other words . . . be fully engaged with God.

Learning with you to be sustained by Christ rather than to be dis . . . eased,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Advice from First Grade

Question to think about: Are you willing to stop . . . look . . . and listen before you proceed?

I learned important life principles in first grade.
My teacher told us about the perils of railroad crossings and how to prevent disaster.
The advice works for life:
Stop . . . stop moving. Take time to breathe. Make sure you have margin.
Look . . . take time to see the presence of God.
Listen . . . shut out the noise of the world and listen to the word of God.
Proceed with caution . . . live intentionally and purposefully.

Life is a process; however, we often are looking for a quick fix. The people that were in the physical presence of Christ wanted a drive-thru experience. They reminded Jesus of the manna that had been provided to their ancestors in the desert:
Moses fed our ancestors with bread in the desert. It says so in the Scriptures: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
Jesus responded, "The real significance of that Scripture is not that Moses gave you bread from heaven but that my Father is right now offering you bread from heaven, the real bread. The Bread of God came down out of heaven and is giving life to the world." (John 6:31-33, The Message)

What did the people miss?
The Bread of Life had come. Jesus provided thousands of people with more than enough bread from five loaves . . . revealing that Christ is the sustainer of Life . . . bringing more to life than can ever be imagined.

What do we miss?
The presence of the Bread of Life . . . the fulfillment of life.

My first grade teacher gave the best advice . . . stop, look, and listen before you proceed . . . meet with the Bread of Life . . . receive.

Learning with you to adhere to the advice,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

No Reason

Question to think about: Do you have fear?

Fear of the future is common.
Fear is a choice.
Fear consumes.
Fear often produces:
Difficulties.
Distress.
Depression.
Dead-ends.
Despair.

Fear becomes an obstacle to seeing the presence of God. We want a sign before we will believe there is more to life than fear.

John records the people wanted a sign so they could believe:
Therefore they said to Him, What sign (miracle, wonderwork) will You perform then, so that we may see it and believe and rely on and adhere to You? What [supernatural] work have You [to show what You can do]? (John 6:30, Amplified)

The people were in the physical presence of Christ. Even so, they wanted more proof that they were in the presence of God. Faith is not about what we see in front of our eyes. We are told:
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1, NIV)

Faith is a choice. God tells us not to fear:
Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. (Isaiah 41:10, Amplified)

There is no reason to fear:
God is with us.
God is our God.
God will strengthen us.
God will toughen us up to difficulties.
God will help.
God will hold us up.

Stop.
Breathe.
Ask the Spirit of God to remove your fear and give you faith.
Remember there is no reason to fear: God is present and will not leave or fail you.

Learning with you to live in faith,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Putting on a Band-aide

Question to think about: What is your impact?

Economic reports around the world continue to be discouraging. It is obvious things can't be done in the same manner, especially when the word "trillion" is used a trillion times to explain the economic plight. The thing is . . . God is not in the equation of these reports.

How often do we leave God out of the equation of our pressures and problems?

The work of God has a long-term impact that far surpasses the impact of trillions of dollars; however, we don't live like it. We often can't see a long-term answer to our "trillion dollar" pressures and problems in relationships, health, finances, and whatever else we are facing. So, we try to do the best we can in the short-term. You might say we take a band-aide approach to life's issues. The thing is . . . the band-aide does not work forever.

So, what can we do to live beyond the short-term band-aide approach?

The people asked Jesus how they could be involved in the work of God:
They then said, What are we to do, that we may [habitually] be working the works of God? [What are we to do to carry out what God requires?]
Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger].(John 6:28-29, Amplified)

Humanity has been issued an invitation to enter an ongoing-active-participating relationship with Christ, God with us. Complete surrender to the presence of Christ allows us to experience power that breaks through pressures and problems and leads to the long-term impact of peace (well-being).

Stop.
Stop using band-aides on pressures and problems.
Be still and know God.
Believe.
Ask Christ to work in and through you.
Participate in the active work of Christ.
Experience the long-term impact of the work of Christ.

Learning with you to refuse the band-aide approach to life,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Beyond Ourselves

Question to think about: Are you willing to change your perspective?

With all the ways that technology allows us to communicate, misunderstandings occur because of miscommunication. There are many reasons . . . frequently because of differing perspectives. The thing is . . . understanding one another is the key to preventing disruption and division in relationships. Seeking to understand one another changes the way we respond to one another.

Too many relationships are lost because of a limited perspective caused by the failure to look beyond ourselves. There is an impact of a limited perspective that has long-term consequences. Study what Jesus said to the people who misunderstood the reason to follow Him:
Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, you have been searching for Me, not because you saw the miracles and signs but because you were fed with the loaves and were filled and satisfied. Stop toiling and doing and producing for the food that perishes and decomposes [in the using], but strive and work and produce rather for the [lasting] food which endures [continually] unto life eternal; the Son of Man will give (furnish) you that, for God the Father has authorized and certified Him and put His seal of endorsement upon Him. (John 6:26-27, Amplified)

Unpack the words of Jesus to gain understanding:
You searched for Me . . . because you were fed . . . filled and satisfied: We can be more concerned with our immediate need, failing to see the whole picture.
Stop toiling and doing and producing . . .the food that perishes and decomposes: We can be so busy doing what we think we need to do that we fail to see that our work will not have a lasting impact.
Strive, work, and produce . . . for the lasting food that endures continually . . . the Son of Man will give (furnish) you that: When we participate with the work of Christ, God with us, the impact lasts forever.

Take time to evaluate how you perceive life.
Do you see beyond yourself . . . beyond what you are doing . . . beyond your feelings . . . beyond your opinion . . . seeking the perspective of Christ?
Meditate:
That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength! (Ephesians 1:15-19, The Message)
Be still.
Perceive more.
Know the presence of Christ, God with us.
Focus on Christ.
See what Christ is calling you to do.
Grasp the immensity of following Christ.
Grasp the extravagance of the work of Christ in you.
Trust Christ for endless energy and boundless strength as you follow.

Learning with you to look beyond my own perspective,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Where is God?

Question to think about: Is God present?

The problems and pressures of life can seem too hard.
"It seemed like everything was going okay . . . and then . . ."
"I am too tired . . . I can't deal with this."
"How can I go on?"
"I am done."
"I quit."
"Where is God?"

How do we keep on going when life becomes too hard? I have learned the hard way . . . that I must stop . . . stop struggling . . . stop trying . . . stop.
And . . . focus on God . . . inviting God into every detail . . . every decision . . . every thought . . . word . . . and action.

Look at what happened when the people discovered that God was missing in their life:
And when they found Him on the other side of the lake, they said to Him, Rabbi! When did You come here? (John 6:25, Amplified)

It took time for the people to miss God, a common dilemma for humanity.

The pressures of life often push us from the presence of God.
Usually moving away from God is a process . . . it occurs little by little.
We know God is present;
however, we fail to be actively engaged with God.
Then, one day we wake up and realize
we are focused on pressures and problems
rather than on the presence of God.
We push God out of the picture.

Life doesn't make sense when we live it on our own.
We desperately need to invite God into our thoughts, words, and actions. It is one thing to have good intentions to be closer to God; it is another thing to go to God and engage with the presence . . . power . . . and peace of God.

The thing is, difficulties are not a sign that God has left us . . .
but a time to evaluate our life . . .
to determine if we have invited God to be fully present . . .
if we are actively engaged with God . . . .
trusting that
God will not leave us.

Jesus said: "I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught." (John 14:25-27< The Message)

Learning with you to be careful not to push God out of life,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)